JJ justifies attack on Mills…also accuses NPP Ministers of stashing away state funds

Former President Rawlings, who doubles as the founder of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) has justified his criticisms against President John Evans Atta Mills' administration.

He has also unleashed scandalous attacks on the immediate past President, Mr. John Agyekum Kufuor. He accused his colleague former President and the Ministers who served under him, during the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government, of stashing huge sums of money into their private accounts.

Mr. Rawlings, known in political circles as “Dr. Boom”, minced no words when he accused Mr. Kufuor and his former officials as a bunch of thieves, criminals and corrupt individuals.

Responding to a question posed to him by the host of the Tema based private radio station, Adom FM, at his Ridge residence, yesterday, the NDC founder virtually took Mr. Kufuor to the cleaners, on a wide range of issues.

When a question was posed to him whether he called Mr. Kufuor 'names' at a recent forum in South Africa, Mr. Rawlings could not directly say yes or no, but rather veered off the question and stated that the interviewer and others were in this country and noticed the 'crimes' perpetuated by the Kufuor led NPP regime. “I have not insulted him. I don't need to insult him. I was just tabulating the misdeeds under his regime. What I said was that the dirt of corruption and human rights abuses under his administration were too much.”

He expressed regret that despite the obvious and alleged crimes and injustices perpetuated by the NPP administration, efforts are being made to white-wash them, thereby creating a platform for opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) to continue to behave as if they were still in power.

“We don't need to white wash the past wrongs. The kind of damage he has caused to the nation, both local and international was too much. The way and manner his family and people under his regime took over government bungalows were amazing.”

According to him, the wealth acquired by members of the NPP administration, including Mr. Kufuor, cannot be justified.

The NDC founder, who left the shores of Ghana immediately he granted the interview, stated that what he acquired as Head of state after almost two decades can be justified.

He stressed, “They have committed too much damage to the state, but are rather making lots of noises. Their conduct is enemy action. This is not opposition,” he declared.

Mr. Rawlings criticized Mr. Kufuor for permitting his son to purchase a hotel, and above all allow his family members, including the members of the NPP administration, to purchase state properties in the name of property owning democracy, to the extent that an individual can own about 8 houses in Cantonments.

Using Mr. Harona Esseku's incident as an example, Mr. Rawlings asked: “What was billions of cedis doing in Harona's car boot,” he asked, referring to Mr. Esseku, the former National chairman of the NPP, who reportedly stated that he takes 'kickback' to President Kufuor.

On why the party's foot soldiers are putting pressure on the NDC government, he said if evidence adduced by the people suggest that the former Ministers were liable for various misdeeds, and yet the government was seen to be dragging its feet, then the party members would be upset.

Turning his attention on his own party, he singled out President Mills as the most honest person with integrity. According to him, individuals like the late Arkaah, Major Boakye-Gyan and others lacked credibility and integrity. Mr. Rawlings still maintained that some of the Atta Mills' appointments were not good enough.

Admitting that President Mills should be given time to work and solve the problems facing the nation, taking the global economic crisis into account, but he maintained that radical actions should be taken against some alleged corrupt NPP officials.

According to him, instead of fast tracking the criminal cases against the NPP officials, the government was rather focused on Ghana @ 50 committee probe.